Freshly added to the stash: Some fluffy Phildar Cecilia. Vintage cardigan, thou shall be mine! (I'm all about the cardigans lately. I can't help it. They're just so PURDY!)

New mags I've just gotten:

1) VK Knitting, Summer 2004 issue courtesy of the ever-thoughtful TAMARA, who sent it just because. [Gracias, Tamara!] My favorites: The "Just Peachy", a.k.a. "Goddess" tank, Bobby Summers's lacy v-neck and Gayle Bunn's halter. Huzzah!

2) Phildar Hommes Automne/Hiver 2004-2005. Much, much nicer than last year's, which I didn't even buy because I found the designs to be...well, I just didn't buy it. This year's edition is much nicer, I think. I've got a few possibilities mapped out for Monsieur Le Hubby. He deserves the knitting love, too.

3) Interweave Knits Fall 2004, thanks to KRISTEN, who sent it because I showed a yearning for it. [Merci, Kristen!] Boy, oh boy. Nice stuff in there. I find Annie Modesitt's (one of my favorite designers) Sideways Spencer very charming. I also like Shirley Paden's Tuck and Lace.

Freshly added to the stash: Some fluffy Phildar Cecilia. Vintage cardigan, thou shall be mine! (I'm all about the cardigans lately. I can't help it. They're just so PURDY!)

New mags I've just gotten:

1) VK Knitting, Summer 2004 issue courtesy of the ever-thoughtful TAMARA, who sent it just because. [Gracias, Tamara!] My favorites: The "Just Peachy", a.k.a. "Goddess" tank, Bobby Summers's lacy v-neck and Gayle Bunn's halter. Huzzah!

2) Phildar Hommes Automne/Hiver 2004-2005. Much, much nicer than last year's, which I didn't even buy because I found the designs to be...well, I just didn't buy it. This year's edition is much nicer, I think. I've got a few possibilities mapped out for Monsieur Le Hubby. He deserves the knitting love, too.

3) Interweave Knits Fall 2004, thanks to KRISTEN, who sent it because I showed a yearning for it. [Merci, Kristen!] Boy, oh boy. Nice stuff in there. I find Annie Modesitt's (one of my favorite designers) Sideways Spencer very charming. I also like Shirley Paden's Tuck and Lace.

Lovely Tahki Cotton Classic from Jenny! This would make a wonderful tank, or maybe Polka Purl Dots from IK's Spring 2004 issue?

The Novita Winter 2004 from Finland [!], with the additional treat of a bar of chocolate from Iris! This is the first time I've seen a Finnish knitting magazine and boy, oh boy do my Finnish neighbors got it going on when it comes to knits. Great stuff, and I'm particularly charmed by this saucy sweater. Love it!

This is non-stash related, but too cool to not share. Some fun surprise treats from Heather, including lip balm, candy, freeze-dried ice cream like the astronauts eat, space shuttle toy, a little coin purse (that my son is now using to store his toy cars so he can attach it to a button loop on his pants!) and some goldfish which my son ADORES. My son opened the package first thing and was so excited he could barely stand it. Just for Heather, here are some pictures of his pajama-ed, spiky-haired self showing off his space shuttle. (I can hear him playing with it right now as I type this.)

Back to stash-related goodies, I also received the latest Rowan mag in trade from Carrie, and the Noro Knits book in trade from Sarah. Wonderful things to knit in both! I've got my eye on a few things from the latest Rowan, and the two things from the Noro Knits book.

In short: My online knitting buds ROCK!

Lovely Tahki Cotton Classic from Jenny! This would make a wonderful tank, or maybe Polka Purl Dots from IK's Spring 2004 issue?

The Novita Winter 2004 from Finland [!], with the additional treat of a bar of chocolate from Iris! This is the first time I've seen a Finnish knitting magazine and boy, oh boy do my Finnish neighbors got it going on when it comes to knits. Great stuff, and I'm particularly charmed by this saucy sweater. Love it!

This is non-stash related, but too cool to not share. Some fun surprise treats from Heather, including lip balm, candy, freeze-dried ice cream like the astronauts eat, space shuttle toy, a little coin purse (that my son is now using to store his toy cars so he can attach it to a button loop on his pants!) and some goldfish which my son ADORES. My son opened the package first thing and was so excited he could barely stand it. Just for Heather, here are some pictures of his pajama-ed, spiky-haired self showing off his space shuttle. (I can hear him playing with it right now as I type this.)

Back to stash-related goodies, I also received the latest Rowan mag in trade from Carrie, and the Noro Knits book in trade from Sarah. Wonderful things to knit in both! I've got my eye on a few things from the latest Rowan, and the two things from the Noro Knits book.

In short: My online knitting buds ROCK!

Date: Saturday, 6:45 p.m. Right before store closing time.

Place: PHILDAR.

Duration of shopping time, including chatting with ladies at shop: 15 minutes.

Booty obtained: Big ole mountain of Pegase yarn, so I can make jackets for two of my favorite guys.

Conclusion: I like me a good yarn expedition.

And I've also received some goodies from my knitting buds overseas that are too fabulous to not share with everyone:

1) Kathi sent over a surprise box filled with all kinds of wonderful things: An origami kit, biscuits, cookies, toys for the Captain, a tote, Sanrio goodies [!], candy, stitch markers, a sample of the beaded ring for the bucket hat knitalong prize, and a crochet magazine with a huge-eyed doll on the cover that I expressed a yearning for. My son and I were gobsmacked as we pulled everything out of the box! The Captain kept saying, "For me??? For me???" as I showed him what he got. Such a thoughtful gesture. Thank you, Kathi!

2) Donna sent over Australia's Knitting Magazine (I love seeing what knitters overseas are knitting!), and some Yowie's (chocolates with toys inside, like Kinder eggs) for the Captain! (There were three Yowie's, but the photo only shows two because the Captain attacked it before I could take a picture.) The next day he insisted on taking the toys - which turned out to be three Australian animals - to school to show off to his friends. And a few weeks ago, I received the sweetest postcard from her daughter Em, as a thank you for the prize yarn I sent her as a reward for her adorable dancing tutu shots. This surprise made our day. Thank you, Donna and Em!

3) I received some knitting treats in trade from Wendy and Ei: Wendy sent over the Debbie Bliss Alpaca book [wow, wow, wow at the designs; I've got two on my wishlist] with some post it notes that read "It's hard being a Goddess". [Hehe.] And Eilene sent over the Rowan Ribbon Twist Collection [wow, wow, wow at these designs, too...I've already picked a project to knit from here] and some Addi needles. Thanks, Wendy and Ei!

What an goodie-filled entry, eh? I think I should just title this entry "WOW!". So I did :-)

Date: Saturday, 6:45 p.m. Right before store closing time.

Place: PHILDAR.

Duration of shopping time, including chatting with ladies at shop: 15 minutes.

Booty obtained: Big ole mountain of Pegase yarn, so I can make jackets for two of my favorite guys.

Conclusion: I like me a good yarn expedition.

And I've also received some goodies from my knitting buds overseas that are too fabulous to not share with everyone:

1) Kathi sent over a surprise box filled with all kinds of wonderful things: An origami kit, biscuits, cookies, toys for the Captain, a tote, Sanrio goodies [!], candy, stitch markers, a sample of the beaded ring for the bucket hat knitalong prize, and a crochet magazine with a huge-eyed doll on the cover that I expressed a yearning for. My son and I were gobsmacked as we pulled everything out of the box! The Captain kept saying, "For me??? For me???" as I showed him what he got. Such a thoughtful gesture. Thank you, Kathi!

2) Donna sent over Australia's Knitting Magazine (I love seeing what knitters overseas are knitting!), and some Yowie's (chocolates with toys inside, like Kinder eggs) for the Captain! (There were three Yowie's, but the photo only shows two because the Captain attacked it before I could take a picture.) The next day he insisted on taking the toys - which turned out to be three Australian animals - to school to show off to his friends. And a few weeks ago, I received the sweetest postcard from her daughter Em, as a thank you for the prize yarn I sent her as a reward for her adorable dancing tutu shots. This surprise made our day. Thank you, Donna and Em!

3) I received some knitting treats in trade from Wendy and Ei: Wendy sent over the Debbie Bliss Alpaca book [wow, wow, wow at the designs; I've got two on my wishlist] with some post it notes that read "It's hard being a Goddess". [Hehe.] And Eilene sent over the Rowan Ribbon Twist Collection [wow, wow, wow at these designs, too...I've already picked a project to knit from here] and some Addi needles. Thanks, Wendy and Ei!

What an goodie-filled entry, eh? I think I should just title this entry "WOW!". So I did :-)

Two packages in one day. Oh, my. I ran around the room in circles when I got them!

From Ann, a batch of Kid Classic in Glacier and a hank of Orchid Line Soft Spun. I've had them displayed on the coffee table since I pulled them out of the box this morning, and keep gazing at them lovingly like a love-struck fool. Me like Rowan yarns. Thank you, Ann!

I also received this package. Non stash-related, but oh-so-yummy:

A whopping box of treats from Jessi! She sent the Hot Tamales because she likes them with her popcorn. I tried some Hot Tamales popcorn as a late afternoon snack and swooned. Where has this snack been all my life? Never again will I eat a bowl of popcorn unless it has Hot Tamale candy in it. Thank you, Jessi! P.S. My little captain LOVES popcorn. I had a hard time getting a photo of the above, because he kept pawing the box of popcorn and repeating, "Mine? Mine? Mine?" like the pigeons in Finding Nemo. What a funny kid!

Two packages in one day. Oh, my. I ran around the room in circles when I got them!

From Ann, a batch of Kid Classic in Glacier and a hank of Orchid Line Soft Spun. I've had them displayed on the coffee table since I pulled them out of the box this morning, and keep gazing at them lovingly like a love-struck fool. Me like Rowan yarns. Thank you, Ann!

I also received this package. Non stash-related, but oh-so-yummy:

A whopping box of treats from Jessi! She sent the Hot Tamales because she likes them with her popcorn. I tried some Hot Tamales popcorn as a late afternoon snack and swooned. Where has this snack been all my life? Never again will I eat a bowl of popcorn unless it has Hot Tamale candy in it. Thank you, Jessi! P.S. My little captain LOVES popcorn. I had a hard time getting a photo of the above, because he kept pawing the box of popcorn and repeating, "Mine? Mine? Mine?" like the pigeons in Finding Nemo. What a funny kid!

Some Crystal Palace Musique gifted to me by Evelyn [xoxo, Evelyn]! I've got this yarn sitting on my coffee table, bathed in its own ray of sunlight, and I've been gazing at it lovingly for the past few days. Let me see...maybe an extra long scarf or a stole? I'm particularly keen on the idea of a really long scarf, because the yarn is so soft and would be lovely to wear wrapped around my neck on a chilly day. Such a nice yarn to knit up. Thank you, Evelyn!

Some Crystal Palace Musique gifted to me by Evelyn [xoxo, Evelyn]! I've got this yarn sitting on my coffee table, bathed in its own ray of sunlight, and I've been gazing at it lovingly for the past few days. Let me see...maybe an extra long scarf or a stole? I'm particularly keen on the idea of a really long scarf, because the yarn is so soft and would be lovely to wear wrapped around my neck on a chilly day. Such a nice yarn to knit up. Thank you, Evelyn!

Sigh. I blame it on Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon in that weepy Stepmom, which showed on French television a couple of days ago. I didn't see it when it came out in the theaters, and it's a good thing I didn't because I would have bothered everyone else with my sobbing. Major tearjerker for a movie sap like me. And it's also the cause of my sorry error! I flubbed the number of rows over which my increases were supposed to be worked, and didn't even notice. Just kept on knitting in ignorant bliss while wiping tears out of the corners of my eyes [thanks a lot, Julia and Susan!]. Finally, right as I was about to start the armhole cap shaping, it occurred to me to count the stitches before decreasing. And it was all downhill from there. Suffice it to say: I had to rip out 40 rows. There was no way around it and YES there would have been a noticeable difference between the sleeves if I hadn't. [Grumble, grumble.]

[Knitting footnote: The other day Felicia noticed that I usually have long ends hanging from my knitted pieces, and she asked if I always join in new yarn at the beginning of rows. Yes! I always do. And if I run out mid-row (although I usually manage to avoid this), I'll frog back to the beginning of a row and join in a new yarn. I try to leave the ends about 12 inches long in case I need to use them for seaming, so I don't weave in any ends until seaming is complete. Even though I leave the ends long, I rarely run out of yarn because I always try to buy an extra skein than what is required. (Before I started doing this I'd run out of yarn sometimes. In that case, I'd "hide" the oddball by using it to knit all the finishing touches, like a neckband. My 2003 pretty cotton jacket and my 2002 "baa baa sheep" sweater both have neckbands that were knit using a skein in another dye lot, and one can't even tell.) End of incredibly long footnote.]

So now please let me distract you from my pitiful knitting karma with a photo of my latest stash addition, fresh from the mailbox:


I feel like grabbing a bullhorn and shouting out the window to passersby, "I got some chunky and furry yarns and I'm going to make a fabulous jacket so THERE!"

Just kidding. I won't use the bullhorn. But Ribbon Twist and Wool Tuft are so spiffy in person! As soon as I get those honkin' 12mm [!] needles I'll be a-swatching.

The yarn was sent to me in trade by Tiffany, with whom I've carried out my biggest yarn trade to date. (The yarn and book shown above is half the trade; there's more to come.) It started innocently enough: Miss Tiffany casually mentioned to me a few "swapable" items from her stash and I retaliated with a few of my own. Which, of course, resulted in a fun and frenzied shooting of stash show-and-tell messages. We even threw in some cookies to seal the deal. I love me a good swap!

Sigh. I blame it on Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon in that weepy Stepmom, which showed on French television a couple of days ago. I didn't see it when it came out in the theaters, and it's a good thing I didn't because I would have bothered everyone else with my sobbing. Major tearjerker for a movie sap like me. And it's also the cause of my sorry error! I flubbed the number of rows over which my increases were supposed to be worked, and didn't even notice. Just kept on knitting in ignorant bliss while wiping tears out of the corners of my eyes [thanks a lot, Julia and Susan!]. Finally, right as I was about to start the armhole cap shaping, it occurred to me to count the stitches before decreasing. And it was all downhill from there. Suffice it to say: I had to rip out 40 rows. There was no way around it and YES there would have been a noticeable difference between the sleeves if I hadn't. [Grumble, grumble.]

[Knitting footnote: The other day Felicia noticed that I usually have long ends hanging from my knitted pieces, and she asked if I always join in new yarn at the beginning of rows. Yes! I always do. And if I run out mid-row (although I usually manage to avoid this), I'll frog back to the beginning of a row and join in a new yarn. I try to leave the ends about 12 inches long in case I need to use them for seaming, so I don't weave in any ends until seaming is complete. Even though I leave the ends long, I rarely run out of yarn because I always try to buy an extra skein than what is required. (Before I started doing this I'd run out of yarn sometimes. In that case, I'd "hide" the oddball by using it to knit all the finishing touches, like a neckband. My 2003 pretty cotton jacket and my 2002 "baa baa sheep" sweater both have neckbands that were knit using a skein in another dye lot, and one can't even tell.) End of incredibly long footnote.]

So now please let me distract you from my pitiful knitting karma with a photo of my latest stash addition, fresh from the mailbox:


I feel like grabbing a bullhorn and shouting out the window to passersby, "I got some chunky and furry yarns and I'm going to make a fabulous jacket so THERE!"

Just kidding. I won't use the bullhorn. But Ribbon Twist and Wool Tuft are so spiffy in person! As soon as I get those honkin' 12mm [!] needles I'll be a-swatching.

The yarn was sent to me in trade by Tiffany, with whom I've carried out my biggest yarn trade to date. (The yarn and book shown above is half the trade; there's more to come.) It started innocently enough: Miss Tiffany casually mentioned to me a few "swapable" items from her stash and I retaliated with a few of my own. Which, of course, resulted in a fun and frenzied shooting of stash show-and-tell messages. We even threw in some cookies to seal the deal. I love me a good swap!